The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-08-03
4 LAUGHING FAMILY.
i PASSING STRANGE STORY FROM
NEW JERSEY.

i PASSING STRANGE STORY FROM
NEW JERSEY.
a Family Witt, Peculiar Nalady-Laush-
ing in Church and ut Odd Times and
Places--Curiou< Stories Told by People
Passing BY.
New YoHK, July 2S.-The story OF
Jerseys laughing family is certainly one
Of the oldest that ever reached the ears
OF correspondent. That a family with
such peculiar n1alady, and one SO
seemingly interesting to The medical
profession, should have lived SO long in
State pretty well populated without
getting into the newspapers, except in a
brief and remote way years ago, is de-
ciledly strange. TIE family reside in q
large, substantial house, not far from
the Delaware river in Hunterdon coun-
ty. The father and sons are farmers
and prosperous and well to 90. The en-
tire family are chronic laughers, having
an affection Of the muscles of the mouth
and throat that compels them to give
vent to apparent merriment at stated in
tervals. the malady first appeared in
the father about dozen years ago. He
was usually & very quiet man, enjoying
fun, but manitestirg his enjoyment with
out much nose He WAS seated at the
dinner table one day in the spring Of
the year, eating steadily and not engag-
ing in any OF tie conversation which the
other members of the family were carry
ing on. Suddenly, without any cause,
ne burst into a loud lit Of laughter so
extremely different from his accustomed
laugh that all were attracted by it at
once. When asked what Was the reason
of his sudden outburst he made no re-
ply, but ccntinuod his nlcrrimcct. Some
of the boys thought lie had Mysteries,
and pounded him on the back, but it
! did no good. After few moments he
made motions for pencil and paper, and
risibics, and asked them to send for
doctor.
The rural physician came, but could
give no remedy that stopped the laugh
ter Peal after peal of what sounded
ike the heartiest kind of fun came from
him, and nothing would avail to prevent
it. The doctor finally came to the con-
clusicn that he was the victim of
nervous attack, and, leaving a nervine
departed.
:. SINGULAR TROUBLE.
The father continued laughing until
about sunGown, when he su denly
stopped and fell On the floor completely
prostrated. He soon grew better, how
ever, ate It Lcarty supper, and spent the
evening much as usual. No signs Of the
return OF the trouble appearing, he went
10 bed and Tas soon fact asleep. Along
about = o'clock, however, his was awak-
ened by his laughter, and the same
symptoms as OF the day before mani
tested themselves. He kept it up until
o'clock, laughing loud and strong. at
I o'clock the noise suddenly ceased and
did not return again until dinner time.
THUS it continued, recurring each day
shortly after noon and in the night about
, o'clock, and has every since. As the
weeks passed he grew so accustomed to
the disease that ne was caused very little
inconvenience by it. He did not get
tired out, as at first, and soon was able
TO go about his work-sowirg seed and
planting corn, digging vegetables and
watering the cattle-while laughing i'm
moderately. He could not talk while
under one Of the spells, but carried a
slate and pencil around with him, after
the fashion of deaf and dumb person.
The trouble was very regular in its
coming and going, and only occasionally
broke forth at unlooked-for seasons.
Once the old man was taken in church,
just when tie minister vas eAhorting his
hearers n the most solemn strains, and
spoiled the effect of the discourse, be-
sides disturbing the equilibrium of the
clergyman. Another time he was found
by one Of his neighbors along the road,
lying beneath bag Of flour, laughing at
terrific rate. He has been taken while
driving home from the nil, and the
suddenness OF the sounds frightened the
horse, causing it to run away and dump
the man and part Of his load out in the
road.
For eighteen months the father was
the only one of the household afflicted
with the malady. Several of them had
complained from time to time of an in
clination to join the father in the laugh,
but none OF them lid SO Until nearly two
years after lie was taken, when Susie,
the youngest child, suddenly burst into
similar tit during one of her fathers
attacks.
From That time on she has laughed at
about the same hours that her father
does. One by one the remaining men,
bers fell victims to the strange COM
piaint, until two years ago there was bat
5nc LEI: free and mat was Charles, the
eldest son. His long exemption led him
! to believe he would escape the malady.
But he was mistaken, and it is said he
Lad his first attack while proposing for
the hand of a girl at Wjlkesbarrc, "a,
Sc frightened wag Tie maiden by
Charles's queer behavior that she run
from tic room, and it was week before
the proper explanation could induce her
to see him again. Sho Is now one Of
;ia family nud escaping the malady
never minds the hidCous chorus Of
laughter which twice 12.y Eesounds
through the hi:ousv II is regarded as
o>:d that none OF the neighbors should
have caught the Infection, although
many OF them mingle constantly with
the family.